Easley attended officials’ academies during the summer in Reno, Nev., and in Salt Lake City. Karl Richins, who ran one of those academies, told USA Today that Easley didn't exactly finish at the top of the class.

"I got to know Lance at a June academy I worked at in Reno and when he came to my academy in July," Richins told USA Today. "He’s a very polite, good Christian gentleman, a good father to his son Daniel, who was at my academy as well.

"But was Lance ready to work at the NFL level? Absolutely not."

Richins’ staff also deemed Easley not ready for Division I. According to Richins, Easley should not have agreed to become a replacement official.

"This is not what we intended for our officiating students to do," Richins said. "We train officials to work at the Division I level. At no time do we say, 'We can train you for the NFL.’ After three days at our academy, Lance was determined by our staff not to be ready for Division I officiating."